Measurement of sexual interest with pupillary response: a meta-analysis.

Attard-Johnson, J., Vasilev, MR, ÓCiardha, C., et al. Measurement of sexual interest with pupillary response: a meta-analysis. Arch Sex Behav (2021) https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-021-02137-y

Commentary

This was a new study investigating pupillary mydriasis as a potential indicator of sexual orientation.

A meta-analysis review of studies published between 1965 and 2020 (MDN year = 2016) was conducted to measure pupillary responses to visual stimuli in adult males and females to assess sexual interest.

Individual meta-analyses were performed on six categories of sexual orientation.

The final analysis included 15 studies of heterosexual men (n = 550), 5 studies of　gay men (n = 65), 4 studies of bisexual men (n = 124), and 13 studies of heterosexual women (n = 403).

Only heterosexual and gay men showed discrimination in pupil response, which was consistent with an apparent sexual orientation, with greater pupil dilation to female and male stimuli, respectively.

Bisexual men showed greater pupillary mydriasis to male stimuli, and heterosexual women showed greater pupil dilation to male stimuli compared to female stimuli, but the effect was small and not significant.

Finally, lesbian women showed greater pupillary mydriasis for male stimuli, and three methodological moderators were identified.